A group of Hobart and William Smith Colleges students is helping strengthen bilingual communication and community connection across Geneva through a partnership with Geneva 2030.
Five bilingual students are supporting the organization’s Language Access Initiative with funding from the Wyckoff Family Foundation and the Rochester Area Community Foundation Latino Giving Circle. The effort aims to reduce language barriers for Spanish-speaking families and improve access to schools and community programs.
The students — Allison Leon ’29, Briana Lucero ’27, Karen Padilla ’27, Emily Echavarria ’25, and Isabelle Girolamo ’25, MAT ’26 — are using their language skills in a variety of roles that support families, youth-serving organizations, and local events.
According to New York State Education Department data, nearly one-quarter of students in the Geneva City School District are classified as English Language Learners. Despite that, many community organizations lack bilingual signage, materials, and staffing, creating obstacles for families whose primary language is Spanish.
Through the initiative, Leon and Lucero serve as bilingual translators, preparing flyers, announcements, and family communications so information is accessible in both English and Spanish. They are also researching interpretation equipment that Geneva 2030 plans to make available to community organizations later this year.
Padilla works as a bilingual host at the school district’s CARES Nights, greeting families and helping ensure they can fully participate in events. Echavarria, who serves as site coordinator for the HWS Tutor Corps’ Saturday Academy, supports bilingual students and families by managing enrollment, transportation logistics, and ongoing communication with caregivers.
Girolamo serves as Geneva 2030’s language access coordinator, leading bilingual engagement across programs. She has helped organize bilingual family events, recruited and trained community interpreters, and worked with organizations to identify barriers and promote inclusive practices.
Together, the students’ work builds on Geneva 2030’s ENLACES initiative, which pairs bilingual tutors with bilingual learners to strengthen literacy and foster a sense of belonging. Their efforts also complement the recent establishment of a chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, at Hobart and William Smith.
Geneva 2030 is a collective impact initiative focused on supporting the education and well-being of Geneva’s children from birth through adulthood. Hobart and William Smith has served as the organization’s anchor institution since its founding in 2011.
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